Thank you for reading our February 2009 newsletter!

Volume Three, Second Issue

WriteReading.com is dedicated to Words that make the future brighter!

 

 

How to correct your child’s misreadings:

Getting a child to reread mispronounced words can be challenging, but it is an important habit possessed by good readers. So, this month’s newsletter will focus on some tips to make rereading a snap. Hopefully, you have had fun over the past few months teaching your child the sounds that letters make, and also adding words to your daily routine. March’s newsletter will resume with the third set of the top 50 words in the Book of Mormon. (These important activities are not just for children on a homeschool curriculum!)

 

MATERIALS NEEDED:

An extra few minutes and the tips below!

 

REREADING:

You will need your child to reread a flashcard word, or a phrase or sentence from the scriptures if it is misread, or if it is read correctly but slowly. The habit of rereading means your child is well on their way to becoming a self-learner and a conscientious reader!

 

YOUR CHILD SELF-CORRECTS WITHOUT BEING PROMPTED:

If your child instinctively rereads a flashcard word, or a phrase or sentence from the scriptures, give plenty of praise for their efforts, especially if your child rereads it correctly! If it was reread incorrectly, pause for a moment to see if your child tries again. If not, reward their rereading habit by reading it back correctly to your child--without asking them to reread it again. To encourage the habit of rereading, only ask your child to reread something if they have not already attempted to reread it themselves.

 

WORDS READ CORRECTLY BUT SOUNDED OUT SLOWLY:

If your child sounds out a word, phrase, or sentence slowly, praise them for their reading ability. Then, pause for a moment to see if your child tries rereading the selection. If not, tell them you would like to hear them read it to you one more time.

 

1.     Flashcard words:  Rereading a word builds your child’s decoding skills. If your child again reads the word slowly, tell them the word to keep things moving. Then have your child practice the word by repeating it back to you ten times.

 

2.     A phrase or sentence from the scriptures:  Rereading a phrase or sentence improves your child’s fluency and comprehension. If a sentence is long, have your child reread part of it. If your child again reads the selection slowly, have your child listen while you read it back correctly to model fluent reading.

 

FLASHCARD WORDS, PHRASES, OR SENTENCES MISREAD:  The following steps encourage your child to correct their own errors with the least amount of intervention. This will prepare your child to read silently. Included are steps that move a child’s focus inward, from the misread phrase or sentence, to a misread word, and then if needed, to a misread letter. When a child catches the error, they reread from that point in the reverse order. If a child doesn’t catch the error, help is given beginning with correcting the letter sound, then the word, and finally, rereading the phrase or sentence. These are the methods used: pausing, asking a child to look again, repeating it back to the child, pointing to misread words or letters, modeling letter sounds, words, phrases or sentences, and talking about new words or storylines. If a step below is needed, give your child only one attempt to correct the error, and then quickly move to the next step.

 

1.  Pause and stop:  If your child reads a flashcard word, or a phrase or sentence from the scriptures incorrectly, pause first to see if your child notices. Ask your child to stop for a moment when needed. Sometimes, without saying anything, a pause will encourage rereading, especially if what was read did not make sense. Give praise if your child corrects the error and skip to step 12! If your child does not seem to know what the error was after pausing for a few seconds, or again reads incorrectly, go to the next step.

 

2.  Look again:  Tell your child that an error was made and have them look again. Pause for a few seconds. A word, letter, or group of letters may have been left out, misread, or inserted. Tell your child which it was, but don’t point to where the error was made. Give praise if your child corrects the error and skip to step 12!

a)    Flashcard words:  If the word is again misread, or your child doesn’t reread after pausing a few seconds, skip to step 5.

b)    A phrase or sentence:  If the selection is again misread, or your child doesn’t reread after pausing a few seconds, go to the next step.

 

3.  Repeat back:  Repeat back to your child what was read. (If it did not make sense, try not to giggle!) Pause a few seconds to see if your child corrects the misreading. If so, offer praise and skip to step 12! If the selection is again misread, or your child doesn’t reread after pausing a few seconds, go to the next step.

 

4.  Point to the word:  Show your child where the word was left out, misread, or inserted (without repeating the word that was misread or inserted), and pause for a few seconds. Give praise if your child corrects the word and skip to step 10! If needed, ask your child to tell you the word. If your child doesn’t reread the word after waiting for a few seconds, or it is again misread, go to the next step.

 

5.  Point to the letter(s):  Point to the letter (or group of letters) within the word that is causing the problem, and ask for its sound. Pause for a few seconds. Give praise if your child corrects the sound and skip to step 8! If your child doesn’t give you its sound, skip to step 7. If your child gives the wrong sound go to the next step.

 

6. Try another sound:  Ask your child to try another sound for that letter and pause for a few seconds. This will build your child’s phonics skills. Give praise if your child corrects the error and skip to step 8! If your child doesn’t give you another sound, or gives the wrong sound, go to the next step.

 

7.  Model the sound:  Tell your child the correct sound.

 

8.  Reread the word:  Now that your child knows the correct sound, ask them to read the word once more. This helps your child practice decoding skills. Give praise if your child corrects the word and skip to step 10! If your child again misreads, or sounds the word out slowly, go to the next step.

 

9.  Model the word:  Tell your child the word.

 

10.  Reread the selection:  Ask your child to read the selection once more. This helps improve your child’s comprehension and fluency. Give praise if your child reads correctly AND fluently and skip to step 12! If the selection is again misread, and/or read slowly, praise your child’s efforts and go to the next step.

 

11. Model the selection:  Ask your child to listen while you read the selection to them.

 

12.  Discussion:  Explain any words that are difficult to understand. Occasionally talk about what was read, or ask your child questions to build comprehension skills.

 

FOLLOW-UP:

Be sure to have your child go back and reread words when needed. This habit reinforces their ability to sound out new words, improve comprehension skills, and become a fluent reader. If desired, space their reading and writing activities throughout the day. You may want your child to choose an activity before giving them permission to do other things. When your child can remember their number, sound or word the next day, without any prompting, it is time to introduce the next one! (See previous newsletters archived at the website above.)

 

This unique program uses the Book of Mormon to help a child:

·        grow closer to the things of God

·        develop a scripture reading habit

·        learn how to read and write

 

Helping a child learn or practice reading and writing skills can be a daunting task. But it doesn’t have to be. Head Start with the Book of Mormon: Using the Scriptures to teach Children Reading and Writing Skills, by Vicki Lynn Rasmussen (42 brief pages + 70 pages of flashcards) will give parents and grandparents the skills needed to nurture great readers using a simple scriptural plan—based on the top 50 words in the Book of Mormon. From a toddler hearing a story read, to a child reading silently, the three included phases will benefit all learners. Watch as your child also develops the habit of regular scripture use!

 

Thank you for purchasing this book! What better gift can you give a child than the gift of literacy? As referenced on the back cover, the author’s royalties will be donated to the LDS Perpetual Education Fund. The book can be ordered at the website above, or purchased at LDS bookstores.

 

Please email any questions or comments you may have to:

info@WriteReading.com

 

I hope to chat with you again soon!

Hugs & wishes, Vicki (o;`~

 

 

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